UDA wrangles mount in Homa Bay, DP Ruto asked to intervene

United Democratic Alliance supporters in Homa Bay want Deputy President William Ruto to intervene in the wrangles that saw the ejection of the party coordinator. 

Everest Okambo was dismissed through a public notice on September 30, 2021, by party secretary general Veronica Maina, an act that risks slowing down the recruitment drive of new members.

The dismissal came after two factions emerged, each group claiming to be the bona fide officials authorised to undertake party activities in Homa Bay.

One faction is headed by Okambo and the other by various people, including clergymen.

Two months ago, Okambo and his party chairman, Ben Onyango, accused Nyanza regional coordinator Eliud Owalo of using some people to undermine them.

Owalo has since refuted the claims, saying he has no interest in the happenings in Homa Bay.

Before Okambo’s dismissal, the tempo of recruiting members had begun slowing down because of the wrangles.

Okambo’s group argued that they got a nod from DP Ruto to continue undertaking the recruitment of members into the party.

But speaking to journalists on Tuesday, supporters led by Charles Amenya and Kevin Ondeyo said the leadership wrangles are destroying the image of the party in Homa Bay.

“The vibrancy of UDA, which had begun gaining momentum in Homa Bay, is headed for a crash. Let DP Ruto himself intervene and solve these issues,” Amenya said.   

In the dismissal letter, Okambo was warned against undertaking any activities on behalf of the party in Homa Bay.

Amenya said they will not manage to meet a target of registering 50,000 members by December as early planned.

UDA says it has registered more than 27,000 people in Homa Bay as members and an average of 7,000 in Migori, Kisumu and Siaya.

Amenya said Maina was misguided in writing the dismissal letter. 

Ondeyo vowed never to withdraw their support for Ruto and dismissed Okambo’s removal.

“It’s high time we UDA officials in Nyanza stopped retrogressive politics. DP Ruto should intervene quickly so that his support doesn’t wane in Homa Bay,” Ondeyo said.

He added that some Nyanza UDA officials want to benefit from the campaign resources that the party will give its candidates ahead of the 2022 General Election.

“They think Okambo will be rewarded and take charge of the Nyanza region because of his good work. But we’re telling them that we’ll not allow them,” he said.